Signature-gatherer.



No. 875,384. PATBNTED DEC. 81, 1907,

o. L. SMITH. SIGNATURE GATHERER,

APPLICATION FILED DEO.31 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ENVENTQR WW M ATTQRNEY No. 875,884. PATENTED DEG. 31, 1907.

G. L. SMITH.

SIGNATURE GATHERER. APPLICATION FILED DBO. a1 1906.

2 SHEBTSSEEET Z;

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CHARLES L. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, ii. 'Y., ASSIGNOF TO GULLBERG & SMITH, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A FIRM.

SIGNATURE-GATHERER.

number or thickness of signatures or sheets,

or signatures or sheets improperly fed to or grasped by the gripper.

My new combination of parts includes stop mechanism, by which I include any stopping or disconnecting means, as, for instance, a clutch, brake, etc.

In the operation of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter especially described, the gripperand parts controlled thereby, or by. the presence or absence of sheets or signatures, do not affect the stop mechanism (a clutch is shown) when the gripper is properly working and is properly seizing signatures or sheets properly fed thereto and of the predetermined thickness and number. If, however, the gripper does not work properly or improperly seizes signatures or sheets either thicker or thinner than predetermined, then the stop mechanism or stopping means is operated and the gripper is rendered inoperative, the entire machine being preferably stopped automatically for this purpose.

.The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of my present improvements. lVhile said improvements may be employed modified as desired, with any form of signature-gathering machine, and the operator may avail himself of any suitable devices to attain the object desired, yet I have preferred, in actual commercial use, to utilize the invention in a form of machine in which the gripper, transmitting parts controlled thereby, signahdisplay means, clutch and other connections, are all positively and mechanically controlled and without the interposition of parts controlled by electricity or compressed air.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed December 31,1906. Serial Np. 360,224.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of part of a signature-gatherer, showing my improvements, with the jaws of the advancing gripper opened; Fig. 2 shows the gripper-jaws closed upon the lowermost of a pile of signatures or sheets Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the stop mechanism having been brought into action because of a gripper ha ing failed to operate as required on account of not having seized the proper thickness of material. Fig. i is a view from the opposite side, showing the spring employed in the operation of the signal-display means and the stop mechanism; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the gripper operating shaft and coupling-arm carried thereby; Fig. 6 shows a stop or block with a yielding or spring held arm. Fig. 7 shows a lever plate with projection.

1 indicates a support for a pile, 2, of signatures or sheets. 3 indicates an adjustable rear guide for saidpile and 4 a front guide therefor. 5 indicates a pivoted plate or base for separating the lowermost signature, 6, from the pile, a suction device 7 and a link 8 being provided to assure properworking, as

fully set out in the United States Patent No 811,509, dated Jan. 30, 1906.

The gatherer is provided with a'frame 9, which is strengthened or made rigid in the usual way by two longitudinal rods connected by one or more cross bars. The drawing Figs. 1. to 4 shows these two rods in section as also a car which connects them. There is thus provided a rigid frame the upper overhanging end of which'carries a bar having stops 10 and 1 1 adjustably fitted in the downwardly projecting ends of said bar. A shaft 12 is journaled in the several upper overhanging ends of frames suchas 9, it being understood that there will be anumber of'such frames suit ably spaced apart, and 'the'several grippers are fixedly connected with said shaft 12.

The form of gripper shown comprises a main bar 13 rigidly connected at its upper 18 and the upper end of said link is connected at about the pivot of the movable gripper Fig. 2) upon the lowermost signature 6 of'the against the stop 10, when the gripper is fully 'tor will identify the particular grip er which and nected with. the movable jaw and the upper end oi the mam bar. The rear end of the movable aw 15 actuates an adjustable hnlc to the short arm of a lever plate 20 pivoted. on the main bar 13'. The outer end of the long arm of the lever plate carries a triangular lug 22 whose co-relation effects with the lugs 51 & 52 the stoppage of the machine, as hereinafter fully described.

A spring 23 is connected with the rear end of the movable gripper-j aw 15 and to a hook 24 (Fig. 1) of the toggle member 16, and as sists-i-n snapping the toggle to se arate the gripper jaws, while a spring 47 ig. 2) connects the lever plate 20 with the main bar 13 j aw. The last-named spring assists the downward movement of the lever plate 20.

The main bar 13 of the gripper carries a sliding pin. 25 and said pin is pushed by the sto 11, when the gripper is fully advanced, an then strikes and throws back the toggle member 16 and closes the jaws (as shown in pile. The toggle member 16' also abuts retracted, whereupon the part 16 is thrown forward (to the iosition shown in Fig. 1,'for instance) and t e gripper jaws are opened and release the signature to be carried away by a chain -or other collecting device emp'loyed.

In order to osciilsic the shaft 12, an arm 27 is connected thereto at a suitable point, and by means ofa link 28 (which may be operated by an eccentric) rising and falling movements are given to the arm 27.

My improvements preferably embody signal-display means, and I have shown an embodiment which employs a separate signal for each gripper, by which means the operahas improperly operated or has-fai ed to operate. The form of signal-display device shown by me, employs a lever 29 pivoted (Figs. 1 andA) at 31 on the upper overhang ing end ol the frame- 9. The upper arm ol" said lever carriesa plate 30 (hearing anumeral or colored, if desired) and the lower arm can ries an adjustable lug 52 and another lug 51 is carried by an arm 50 pivoted at 53-3 to the frame. These lugs 52 and 51 can be adjusted along their arms which latter are screw threaded or have a nut lorsuch adjustment but such lugs can not turn or swivel on lho arms as the latter are angular or the engagement is such as not to allow rotation of the lugs. The arms 29 and 50 are caused to swing together being connected at a suitable point by a link56 having a l'ork or studs clasping or engaging one oi the arms to l'orm a sliding or non binding cimnmztion for the arms 29 and 50 pivoted at dillcrcnt points.

The lugs 51 and 52 have one face or edge erases part inclined to allow the catch 22 to slip by when on the return motion but said lug 22 strikes square when engaging the lugs 51 or to move the signal. The lug 51 is pivoted 57 (Fig. 6) and yieldingly' held by a spring 58 against a pin or stopping point to yield so that when triangular lug 22 in passing through lugs 51 and 52 should come into touch with lug 51 said lug 5Lcan yield with the upwardly swinging lug 22to avoid breakage. Such yielding or spring attachment 58 thus prevents breakage. By having the lugs 51'and 52 swinging about separate points or pivots each projection can be so set that when engaged by lug 22 the latter will keep in engagement until the signal has been set or ung to required position.

i ormally, the signal display means assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and upon the retraction of the gripper, if the jaws thereof are properly grasping a signature of the predetermined thickness, the lug 22 (of the leverrplate 20) will pass freely between the adjusted lugs 51 and 52 of the lever 50 and arm 29 without disturbing such parts; and when the toggle member 16 has butted against the stop 10, and the gripper jaws have been opened, the parts are brought to the position shown in Fig. 1, the leverplate 20 will raise the projection 22, so that upon the advance of the gripper such projection (as shown in Fig. 1) wi pass above the upper projection 51. If, however, the gripper jaws have failed to grasp a signature, or have grasped sheets of either less or greater thickness than predetermined, the abnormal .position of the movable jaw 15 will cause such positioning of the lug 22, that such lug will, upon retraction of the gripper, strike one of the lugs 51 or 52 and push the arm 50 and the lower arm oi the lever 29 backwardly.

As shown in Fig. 4 the lever 29 'carries a short arm 60, and a heavy spring (5] is connected to said arm and to a fixed point of the frame. such spring keeps the signal as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but as the lever is thrown back (b I cn a emcnt ol' )ro'ection 22 with either a h '7 v i In the normal position of the lever,

having arms (corrcspond'ing in number to the sigmLl-display devices). ()no such arm is shown, inns normal position, zit/32 m Fig. l. The scvcral arms are all llxcd upon a slender shaft 33 and, at some point throughout itslength, said sha'l't isv conncctcd with and moves a short arm 244 (Fig. Ulrom tho outer end of which depends a link 35. The lower end of such link is loosel connected with the forward end of a'bar 36 having a notch 37 in its lower edge. The rear end of said bar is pivoted to the short arm 39 fixed upon a shaft 40. Said shaft has a long arm which is pivotally connected with a rod 41, the lower end of which engages within the fork of an arm 42 rigidly connected with an oscillatory rod whose end carries forks 44 within the annular groove 45 of a clutch surrounding a driving shaft 46. -A handle 49 (of which several are usually employed) is connected to'the shat t 40, or otherwise arranged to move the clutch, through theaid of the rod 41, as desired.

The normal position "of parts 32, and 36 when the gripper (or grippers) is properly working-is that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the recess or notch 37 out of the path of a projection 54 moving with the gripper, and which is preferably a projection 54 formed (as shown in Fig. 5) upon the free end of an arm 55 secured, at any point desired, upon the shaft 12 and separate from the main bar 13 of the grip )er. When however, an arm 50 of a-signal (iisplaydever has been thrown backward (as shown in Fig. 4) by reason of lug or finger 22 having failed to pass between the lugs 51 and 52, the arm 29 will be pulled (by spring 61) against arni 32 and drop the link 35 and bar 36 downwardly,

so as to have such bar rest upon, and press downwardly upon, the projection 54 of arm 55, with the result that the bar drops to its lowermost position, upon the advance of the gripper, and as such advance is continued, the projection 54 enters the notch or recess 37 of the bar and, still engaged therewith (as shown in Fig. 3) moves the bar foi 'ward, swinging the arm 39 and moving the rod 41. This results in oscillating shaft 43, andoperates the clutch to disconnect the driving shafts. I

The arm 55 fixed to shaft 12 forms engaging or transmission means since such arm when in engagement with bar 36 transmits motion from shaft .12 to the bar 36 and thereby to the arm 39 and link 41.

The device described and shown byme is, therefore, one in which the gripper shaft 12 (or gripper) is normally disconnected from the stopping coimections which are normally out of position to be operated, but upon ab normal positioning or operation of the gripper, the stopping comiections are dropped to operative position and are then positively driven to effective position. I

if the machine has been arrested with the parts in the position shown in Fig. -3, the jaws can be reopened by the attendant gripping. the toggle links 16 and 17 or one of them and pressing them into line as seen in Fig. 1 to reopen the jaws. The signal 30 is moved by hand from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. l and the arm 32 being clutch. I

What Iclai m is:+. I I I 1. In a signature gathere'rfan ofs I ting shaft, a gripper carried by 'theshaft; vjneans for opening and closing thfgrip'e a cl t 'h,

a shaft fornausinglth .lutc

lease, linksf i 'o' shaft, a I and,anfa rin V 35 the signal for allowing one of the linkstomove to engagement with the transmission arm.

2. in a signature-gatlierer, a plurality of gripper-devices, a shaft connected with and oscillating the several gripper-devices; an. arm connected with said shaft, signal-devices one for each gripper-device, means for moving the signal devices a second shaft, lever arms on said shaft corresponding in number with and arranged to be moved by the sig nal-devices for operating said second shaft, and means for rendering the gathercr inoperative moved by the second shaft into engagement with the arm aforesaid.

3. In a signature gatherer, a plurality of gripper devices, a shaft connected with and oscillating the several gripper devices, an

arm with a lug carried and oscillated by said shaft, signals actuated by the respective gripper devices, an arm actuated by the signals, a link forced downto engage the lug of the oscillating arm when the signal actuated arm is actuated by the signals, a lever actuated by the link, and a clutch with operating shaft actuated by the lever.

4. A signature-gatherer comprising a gripper-jaw, and an oscillating arm to which said jaw is lined, a second jaw pivoted to the fixed jaw, means for swinging the jaw. on its pivot, a plate independent of the jaw swinging means pivoted upon said arm and carrying a projection, and a link connecting the movable gripper-j aw with said plate.

5. A signature gatherer comprising a pair of gripper jaws and an oscillating arm carryrying said jaws, a plate pivoted upon said arm and carrying at one-end a stop, a signal actuated by saidstop, a link connecting the other end of the plate to one of the gripper jaws, and a pair oftogglev members inde pendent of the link for actuating one of the gripper jaws.

(S. A signature-gathercr comprising gripper jaws, an oscillating, arm for carrying the jaws, a signal actuating projection carried by said arm, a pivoted signal arm, and second arm'pivoted independently of and connected to swing with the signal arm, both saidlast link I named arms having projections adapted for engagement by the signal actuating projection.

7. A signature gatherer comprising swinging gripper-jaws, a projection and connection whereby said projection isset and actuated by the gripper jaws, a signal arm, a second arm separately mounted from and connected to the signal arm, and projections carried by said arms and engaged by the projection of the jaws.

8. A signature-gatherer comprising swinging gripper-jaws, a projection and connection whereby said projection is set and actuated by the gripperjaw's, a signal arm, a second arm mounted independently of and connected to the signal arm, and projections carried by said arms and engaged by the projection 'set by the jaws said projections set by the aws being made to respectively engage one or the other oi the projections on the arms as the jaws are open above or below a certain eX- tent.

9. A signature-gatherer comprising gripper jaws, a projection and connections Whereby it is moved by the jaws, asignal, and separately pivoted connected arms having connections for moving the signal, said arms having projections adapted for engagement by the projection on the gripper. v

10. A signature-gatherer comprising gripper jaws, a projection and connections Whereby it is moved by the jaws, a signal, and separately pivoted connected arms having connections for moving the signal, said arms having projections adapted for engagement by the projection moved by the gripper jaws one of said projections being yielding or held in position by a spring.

In testimony'whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. SMITH. \Vitnesses:

. EDWARD VVIEsNER,

CHRISTIAN ALMSTEAD. 

